The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1887-03-17

The Engineer Of National Repute Suddenly
Passes Atcay.

6Fs tts VI ENetttOstNA AhrPttsO '+'f
Passes Ascay.
ST. LOUIS, March 10-A Telegram was re-
ceivcd here late this afternoon, announcing
the death of Captain James B. Eads, which
occurred at Nassau, New Providence, Bahama
islands, March s, the cause Of death being
pneumonia. The last news received from
Captain Eads by his family In st. Louis was a
telegram on Tuesday from Mr.. Karner, his
agent In New York, saying that he had re-
ceived a letter, which must have left Nassau
on the 9Th, and that Mr.. Eads was dangerous
ly Ill with congestion Of the lungs. Although
he was In delicate health, no such fatal ter
mination was anticipated by his family here.
1t is impossible TO get any further partleu-
lars relative to the death Of Captain Eads.
The dispatch chronicling the fact was re-
ceived from Nassau by the steamer Lizzie
Henderson to day. There is no telegraphic
communication with Nassau, and no one on
board the vessel which brought the intelll-
gence knows ANYTHING about the matter.
MIR. EADs' EARLY CAREER.
James b. Eads was born In Lawrenceburg,
Ind, May %, 1920. Ills early education was
limited, as reverses soon forced him to leave
school to assist In supporting the family.
When he was only 5 years of age he became
interested in machinery, and before h was II
years of age he had taken to pieces aud read
justed a clock and a patent lever watch, and
he was then provided with n small work shop,
In which he made all manner of small machan-
al contrivances. When he was l3 years Of age
his father removed to 81. Louis. On the way
all the family possessions were destroyed by
fire, and the boy became n street pcidler OF
oranges. In the winter of that year he built Il
locomotive, which was run by Il ram tied by
the tail on a treadmill in the interior.
After a short time Young Eads obtained Il
position with Il firm the senior partner OF
which-Barret Williams-discOyerel his me.
mechanical tastes and gave him free access to
his library. After a year or two he went on &
steamboat as clerk and remained two years,
during which period he obtained a valuable
fund of nformatio concerning the river.
ENGAGED IN WEIGHING.
In 1912 Mr.. EadS entered into partnership
with Case IL Nelson, boat-builders, for the
purpose of recovering steamboats, and cargOes
which had been wrecked At first the opera
tions of the firm were limited, their machinery
and appliances being very primitive aud quite
inadequate 10 the work thcy undertook to per-
form. Such were the energy, versatility and
industry of MIR. Eads, however, that the bust
ness rapidly expanded. until in the space of
about ten years the firms property had in
creased to half a million dollars IN value.
In the meantime Mr.. Eads had established
a factory at st. Louis for the manufacture of
glassware. The business did not prove re-
munerative and he returned to the wrecking
business. In 1856 he submitted to con-
gress a proposition to keep the western rivers
open for n term of years by removing all OBJ
structiOns and keeping the channels free.
The bill embOdying his proposal passed the
house but was defeated in the senate. He re-
tired from active business in 1851. on ac-
count of ill-health. During the war he took
ground against the levying of contributions
on southern sympathiZers. and headed u
movement to raise a fund to take the place
of that which the military authorities had
determined to exact from the friends of the
confederacv in st. LOUIS.
ENGAGED IN GREAT York.
Mr.. Eads received a contract for building
the first seven vessels of the Mississippi gun
boat flotilla and he constructed the first iron
clad in America.
From the close of the war to the time of the
construction of the great st. Louis bridge Mr..
Eads was engaged in no great public works.
Upon that bridgr his fame as al engineer was
firmly established. The bridge project was
selected and the project met with varying
fortunes until Mr.. Eads began to take au active
interest in it in 1861. In that year he was
elected engiGeer-in-chief Of the company then
formed He at once procured the services of
Colonel Henry F!ad and proceeded 10 develop
plans which were subsequently followed out
and the gigantic bridge constructed. 1t was
completed and opened in 1876.
In 1915 Mr.. EadS began the construction of
a system of jettieS for increasing the depth of
nc WHICH at lilt LiOutn u lit vi .S5!SSltDi uD-
der contract with the government. His plans
when proposed We're secuted by prominent en-
gineers, but proved eminently successful. He
secured 4 depth of water which allows the
largest vessels to sail in the river and unload
her cargoes at New Orleans.
HIS LATEST UNDERTAKING
Mr.. Eads' latest and greatest project was
the building Of a ship railway across the
lsthmus of Panama. He endeav0rcd for sey-
eral years to secure from congress a guaranty
of the bonds of his company Of which VIII
liam Windo of New York is president. He
was unable to obtain his concession from the
government and at the session of congress
which has just cOnclu led he asked shat 4 char
ter and the protection of the United States gov
eminent only be granted to his company but
this was refused.
Mr.. Eads was married in 1916 10 Martha y.
Dillon, daughter Of Patrick ". Dillon. His
wife died in 1872. Subsequently he married
his present wife. Mrs. Eunice 5. Eads. He
had five daughters, three Of whom married
respectively John A. Ubsdell of New York,
Estill McHcnry, assistant postmaster at st.
Louis, and James F.. Howe of this city, sec
rotary and treasurer of the Wabash Western
railway company. He was Granted the de-
gree OF IL D.. By the Missouri state uniYer-
sity-